Experimental characterization of hexatic smectic phases through electro-optic studies and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy

The electro-optic and complex dielectric behaviour of an antiferroelectric liquid crystal 4-(1-methylheptyloxycarbonyl)phenyl 4′-(n-butanoyloxyprop-1-oxy)biphenyl-4-carboxylate, having chiral SmC_A* and hexatic smectic phases, have been investigated. Complex dielectric permittivities were measured as a function of frequency, d.c. bias field and temperature. Spontaneous polarization was measured by the current reversal technique; tilt angle was measured under a polarizing microscope using a low frequency electric field. The electro-optic properties and dielectric behaviour of the material are compared with results obtained by DSC and polarizing optical microscopy. Dielectric relaxation processes in SmC_A* and hexatic smectic phases were determined. The dielectric strength at the SmC_A* to hexatic smectic phase transition is discussed in terms of coupling between the long range bond orientational order and smectic C director. It seems from the results of spontaneous polarization and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy that the material might possess an additional phase between the SmC_A* and hexatic smectic I* phases.     

Isotope Effects During Metabolism of (±)-Tramadol Isotopomers by Human Liver Microsomes

Tramadol (T), racemic 1(e)-(m-methoxyphenyl)-2(e)-(dimethylaminomethyl)-cyclohexane-1(a)-ol is an effective analgesic drug. Metabolites were formed by O- and N-demethylation. Six deuterated tramadol isotopomers have been synthesized; their kinetic isotope effects in oxidative demethylation reactions were investigated in vitro using human liver microsomes. In comparison to unlabelled (±)-tramadol, (±)-T-OCD₃ and (±)-T-D₉ displayed an unequivocal (< 3), (±)-T-ND₆ and (±)-T-ND₃ a noticeable, and (±)-T-cyclohexyl-D₃ as well as (±)-T-¹⁵ND₂ no measurable isotope effect. Metabolic switching (favoring the N-demethylation) was observed only after incubation of a tramadol with a trideuterated methoxy group. Additional N-CD₃-groups prevented this metabolic switching. Metabolic switching favoring the O-demethylation was not observed. The isoenzyme responsible for the O-demethylation was always saturated under the experimental conditions required to detect the metabolites.

The two tramadol isotopomers containing deuterium in metabolic inert positions (other than the methyl groups, i.e., (±)-T-¹⁵ND₂ and (±)-T-cyclohexyl-D₃) were expected to display no isotope effects. This expectation could be verified in this study.     

Multimode fiber bandwidth prediction based on preform profile

A new technique is suggested for multimode fiber bandwidth prediction based on a preform profile. It allows one to calculate the output pulse distortion and allows the bandwidth of a fiber to be drawn dependent on the excitation conditions under which it will operate. It is shown that the accuracy of the bandwidth prediction for 1.5- to 2.5-km fibers is about 10%, the bandwidth being 1–1.5 GHz/km. To achieve this accuracy it is necessary that the excitation conditions and differential mode attenuation be exactly reproduced in the calculation. The profile variations along the length should not be considerable. The prediction technique was adapted to the P101 Preform Analyser (York Technology) and can replace alpha-approximation curve-fitting during routine manufacture of multimode preforms.     

Post-buckling behavior of a fixed arch for variable geometry structures

The behavior of a bistable strut for variable geometry structures was investigated in this paper. A fixed shallow arch subjected to a central concentrated load was used to study the equilibrium path of the bistable strut. Based on a nonlinear strain–displacement relationship, the critical loads for both the symmetric snap-through and asymmetric bifurcation buckling modes were obtained. Moreover, the principal of virtual work was also used to establish the post-buckling differential equilibrium equations of the arch in the horizontal and vertical directions. Therefore, the whole mechanical behavior before and after the buckling of fixed arches is investigated.     

A simple method to measure the twist elastic constant of a nematic liquid crystal

We demonstrate a simple method for measuring the twist elastic constant (K₂₂) of a nematic liquid crystal (LC). By adding some chiral dopant to an LC host, the LC directors rotate 180° in a homogeneous cell, which is known as 180° super-twisted nematic (STN) cell. By preparing two such STN cells with different chiral concentrations and measuring their Fréedericksz threshold voltages, we can obtain the K₂₂ and helical twisting power simultaneously. In the whole process, there is no need to measure the pitch length. Our obtained K₂₂ values agree well with those reported by using other methods.     

Effect of the polarisation direction and incident angle of a UV light on the electrooptical response of the polymer-stabilised vertically aligned in-plane switching liquid crystal

We investigated the effect of the polarisation direction and incident angle of a UV light on the electrooptical properties of the polymer-stabilised vertically aligned in-plane switching (PS-VAIPS) liquid crystal. The PS-VAIPS sample cured with a UV light whose polarisation was parallel to the projected direction of the in-plane electric field showed greater transmittance, faster rising time and slower falling time than the sample cured with a UV light with a perpendicular polarisation to the electric field. In addition, the PS-VAIPS sample showed slower rising time and faster falling time with increasing incident angle of the UV light.     

Viewing angle controllable fringe and in-plane switching vertical alignment LCD

A viewing angle controllable fringe and in-plane switching vertical alignment liquid crystal display (LCD) structure has been proposed. To realise the change from wide viewing angle (WVA) to narrow viewing angle (NVA) in a single LCD panel, the bias voltage is applied on the common electrode, and NVA can decreases with the increasing bias voltage. In WVA mode, the viewing angle cone (contrast ratio larger than 1000:1) is almost 70° and the contrast ratio is larger than 100:1 in arbitrary azimuthal directions. In NVA mode, the viewing angle cone (10:1) can continuously and uniformly change from 40° to 20°.     

Quantitative determination of paclitaxel and its metabolites, 6α‐hydroxypaclitaxel and p‐3′‐hydroxypaclitaxel,in human plasma using column‐switching liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A column‐switching liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry to determine paclitaxel and its metabolites, 6α‐hydroxypaclitaxel and p‐3′‐hydroxypaclitaxel, in human plasma was developed. The analytical system had a Shim‐Pack MAYI‐ODS (10 × 4.6 mm i.d.) trapping column with deproteinization ability that concentrates analytes and removes water‐soluble components. This method covered a linearity range of 5–5000 ng/mL of concentrations in plasma for paclitaxel, a range of 0.87–870 ng/mL for 6α‐hydroxypaclitaxel and a range of 0.87–435 ng/mL for p‐3′‐hydroxypaclitaxel. The intra‐day precision and inter‐day precision of analysis were less than 11.1%, and the accuracy was within ±14.4% at concentrations of 5, 50, 500 and 5000 ng/mL for paclitaxel, 0.87, 8.7, 87 and 870 ng/mL for 6α‐hydroxypaclitaxel, and 0.87, 8.7, 87 and 435 ng/mL for p‐3′‐hydroxypaclitaxel. The total run time was 30 min. Our method was successfully applied to clinical pharmacokinetic investigation. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

高效液相色谱串联质谱法同时测定饲料中4种硝基呋喃类抗生素

建立了同时测定配合饲料中呋喃唑酮、呋喃它酮、呋喃西林、呋喃妥因的高效液相色谱串联质谱(HPLC-MS/MS)分析方法。样品粉碎后经乙腈提取,在40℃下氮气吹干,残渣用正己烷脱色脱脂,经中性氧化铝小柱净化,采用Sunfire C18柱(150 mm×2.1 mm,5μm)分离,流动相为甲醇和0.05%乙酸铵溶液,梯度洗脱,在MRM正负切换采集模式下进行测定,外标法定量,其中呋喃西林与呋喃妥因采用负离子扫描方式,呋喃它酮与呋喃唑酮采用正离子扫描方式。呋喃唑酮和呋喃妥因的检出限(LOD)为2.0μg/kg,定量下限(LOQ)为5.0μg/kg,呋喃它酮和呋喃西林的检出限(LOD)为3.0μg/kg,定量下限(LOQ)为10.0μg/kg,4种药物在5.0～100.0μg/L范围内线性关系均良好(r>0.99)。以罗非鱼饲料进行加标回收实验,测得4种硝基呋喃原药的回收率为78%～107%,相对标准偏差均小于12%。该方法快速、准确,可用于配合饲料中4种硝基呋喃原药的同时测定。